Ailee Petrovic

Personal February 12, 2018

Week(s) in Review

Oof, the last few weeks have been all over the place. I love keeping up with my Week in Review posts. I used to post five times a week, in the days long before kiddos! I try to post at least once a week now, which is normally very manageable but over the last three weeks, it just hasn’t happened. Besides life just being a bit crazy, I had the added factor of my hard drive (which literally houses every file/photo that I’ve taken for the last I-don’t-know-TEN-YEARS) falling off the desk and becoming unreadable. Lots of tears and frustration and dollars spent, but it’s back and working and praise Jesus for that! I totally just write for myself, which is the best way to blog, I think. Just me, typing on my computer at 1:09am, talking to myself… sharing memories, photos, etc. that I really do reference all of the time.

Anyways, I digress (perhaps that timestamp is why). Some highlights from the past few weeks include Donuts with Dad at Isla’s school, Milly’s Christening in Galveston, a few lunch dates with good friends, lots of working out with Monica, a number of client sessions (sharing only a few below, but have photographed fundraisers, newborns, 6 month sessions, headshots, Valentine’s photos, you name it), and lots of family time (unplugged, hanging out with no technology time which is for sure the best thing ever and makes me want to time travel to 1950!). I’m sure a ton of other fun things in between, but I’ll let the photos do the talking! I’m saving some of the cute Valentine’s photos we took this weekend for a post on Wednesday (when we’re in Paris, by the way – small detail!).

Hope you are having a wonderful week so far! Thank you for reading, as always! Love y’all. xo

Events January 30, 2018

Emilia’s Sweet Shop: A Dylan’s Candy Bar Themed First Birthday Party

I had a “What a One-derful World!” themed first birthday party fully planned out for sweet Emi, but when Meredith muttered the words, “What about a candy party?” then texted a photo of what she had in mind, I was sold. Alas, a Dylan’s Candy Bar-themed party sprouted out of my crazy brain – it involved 193,249 texts between Meredith and Monica, both of whom Sasha thinks have a bad influence on me! Ha.

I sent Monica a very rough draft of an invitation design, which she, of course, ran with and instantly delivered a paper mock-up, which looked way better than I could have imagined. From there, vinyl backdrops were designed, custom fabrics and wallpaper was printed, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

The real MVPs of this party were Monica, for making lots of designs (signs, vinyls, invitations – you name it) and obviously THAT CAKE. It is so amazing! I was so sad that people had to eat it. Even Emi’s egg-free smash cake (love/hate her for that!) was gorgeous and delicious too. And of course, my mom, who baked and iced 60 cupcakes, sewed bunting for Emi’s high chair, made a table runner, and sewed 45 favor bags for people to take candy home in. What would I do without these two?

Overall, the party was so much fun. Emi was uncertain how to deal with all of the attention at first, but she was really feeling the cake smash, which I was most worried about. We definitely were left with lots of candy afterwards, but I bagged it up and gave it to my sister to take to her office! After the sugar high wore off, sweet Emilia slept well that night and woke up in the best mood for her actual birthday yesterday. I want the birthday festivities to live on, but am so ready for a break in party planning! Ha. I sourced all of the items in the party below, except some DIYs, like the ‘Watch Emi Grow’ planter, which was something I had in my mind then went to Home Depot and made it work (with Sasha’s help). Email me if you have any questions! And now, for 100-or-something party pics!

Sources: Vinyl backdrops from Signs.com, designed by Monica of Paper Flour Ink // Invitations created by Monica of Paper Flour Ink // Calligraphy by Nancy of nancyb. creative // Cake by Monica of Paper Flour Ink // Balloon arch by Lili of Lili’s Balloon Decorations // Cookies by Jessie of Miss J’s Bakeshop // Florals by Flower Vibes // Candy containers from Shindigz // Custom water bottle labels from Amazon // Pink Chivari chairs, blue tablecloth, kids table from Aztec Party Rentals // Custom caricature coloring sheets by Juan on Fiverr.com // Cupcakes by my mom (with toppers from Party City, cupcake liners from Amazon) // Cupcake stands from Amazon // Pink sequined tablecloth on Amazon // Favor bags, bunting, and table runner by my mom // Instax polaroid camera on Amazon // Custom Shutterfly photo book // BabyBjorn highchair on Amazon // Custom stamps from Mi nted // Candy stand DIYed, but storage unit from IKEA with customized removable wallpaper from Spoonflower // Custom jigsaw puzzle from CreateJigsawPuzzles.com // White frames for signs from Target // White serving platter for cookies from Target // Moonwalk from Sky High Party Rentals // Front door sign printed from VistaPrint.com // My red dress from Nordstrom // Clear kids ghost chairs from Amazon // White kids Eames chairs from Amazon

Personal January 29, 2018

Happy First Birthday, Emilia Wilkie!

I blinked. And here we are. Parents of a three-and-a-half year old and a one year old. At this moment a year ago, I was at Memorial Hermann Hospital, snuggling with our tiny, few-hours-old bundle of joy – Emilia Wilkie Petrovic. Now, a year later, I’m chasing around a rapid crawling, sometimes-walking 12 month old babe (refusing to use “toddler” just yet!). I’m the cruel mom that schedules a one year well-check on her actual birthday, so found out today that she is 19 pounds, 7 ounces (45 percentile), 29.25 inches (55 percentile), 18.25 in head circumference (86 percentile – gets that from her dad!). How she’s grown! But in so many more ways than physically.

Her vocabulary now includes Belle (BEH! BEH! BEH!), Mama, Dada, Baba, Nana (Ivana), Isla (IY-YA! IY-YA! IY-YA!), baby, bye-bye, and night-hight (niy-niy). She has taken up to 13 steps, but still chooses to crawl around because that’s still the fastest form of transportation. After yesterday, she has eaten her fair share of sugar, but her favorite foods are apples, bananas, Serbian soup (made by her Baba), yogurt, applesauce, puffs, Goldfish, salmon and pasta.

She is the strongest hugger I know. Once her arms are around you, you’re in a legit headlock until she releases you. But she’s not one to cuddle often, unfortunately. She is a mama’s girl, through and through. We’re going through a little bit of separation anxiety right now, where she wants me-me-me, all of the time.

She loves the Trolls and Zootopia soundtracks. She loves her Lulla doll more than any other possession. She loves drinking water (I wish she got this from me!). She loves copying what her sister does (Isla raises her hand? Emi does too.). Basically, she just adores her sister. She loves when I do “Up high, down low, too slow!” She loves when we read bedtime stories. She loves when her Tata comes home from San Antonio, then almost switches alliances 😉 She loves pulling everything out of drawers – basically making a mess everywhere she goes. She loves pulling bows out of her hair the second I put them in.

She dislikes shoes and will take them off immediately. She dislikes getting her diaper changed. I’m like – HELLO, haven’t I done this 12,380 times now? Aren’t you used to it? The only way to bypass crying during a change is to give her a wipe to SUCK ON. Gross, I know. But you do what you gotta do, I guess. She loves Belle, but really doesn’t like when she licks her face. Which, of course, I understand. But Belle loves to lick her face.

What feels like just yesterday, I was writing Isla’s birth story. And after that, her 1st birthday post. Then, seemingly just minutes ago, I wrote Emi’s. And somehow, just today, that baby turned one and we seriously could not love her any more than we do. I feel like I don’t deserve these two sweet girls, but I’m sure grateful that I get to be their mom.

PS I cannot thank Nancy Aidee enough for these photos she took of us in her amazing studio! I love them!

Personal January 22, 2018

Week(s) in Review

Happy Monday! We flew back to Houston two weeks ago, then had a weird off-week trying to get back into the swing of things, then the girls’ school was canceled (and the whole city basically shut down) for two ice days last week, so I am praying that this week we can get back into a routine. Holidays + Durango + ice days = chaos for the last 6 weeks, and I’m such a routine person. I need some order restored to my life.

To make matters a smidgen worse, my hardrive that houses every single photo I’ve taken since 2010 broke on our last day in Durango, so I have been in a funk about that. I’m working on temporary drives while trying to restore it (finally taking it to a new place tomorrow), so I haven’t been taking too many pics as a result. With that said, there are quite a few below! This weekend was so fun – we saw some of our best friends, bounced a trampoline park, ate dinner with our families, and took birthday photos for Emi.

Cheers to the start of a good week and hopefully some normalcy! Ha.

Décor January 15, 2018

Charlotte’s Bright, Mixed-Pattern Nursery

In November, I posted my gorgeous friend’s maternity photos – the post aptly named “Ready for Baby Charlotte.” Although, if you had asked Amanda, she would have told you she wasn’t quite ready, because she felt the nursery wasn’t ready. Well, Amanda is a perfectionist, so I thought she was just saying that! Now that I’ve seen the nursery, I understand. It would likely have taken me 18 months, not less than 9, to design. I am so in love with it. Amanda’s eye for design has always been spot on, so there’s no surprise there. But I would like to move into her nursery and live there forever. I adore the wallpaper on the ceiling, the painting that her talented sister, Shelley, painted, the gorgeous IKEA dresser transformation, and how all of the patterns and colors come together to create one colorful and bright, yet blissful, nursery. The light in the room is just to die for, and makes me so very excited to move into our new house with second floor bedrooms! Ha.

Sweet Charlotte arrived on December 17 – I posted a few photos of her, less than an hour old here. I had the pleasure of taking her newborn photos this weekend and am going to edit them after posting this!

I shared a photo of the nursery on Instagram yesterday, then got a slew of Direct Messages asking for sources, so I had Amanda sent me a list of where she got everything to field these questions! Thank you, Amanda, for letting me share this gorgeous space of yours and Charlottes!

Sources: Crib: All Modern // Glider: Target // Rug: Target // Wooden Changing Tray: Buy Buy Baby // Dresser: IKEA // Dresser Overlays: My Overlays // Swan: Target // Bookshelf: Wayfair // Painting: Amanda’s sister // Wallpaper: Donghia // Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Alabaster SW7008 // Changing Pad Cover and Crib Sheet: This Spoonflower Fabric (Customized) and Rocky Top Design Etsy Shop // Crib Skirt: This Spoonflower Fabric on top and this Spoonflower fabric for trim, made by Grace and Cruz Etsy Shop // Side Table: Home Goods (no longer available) // Ottoman: Target // Lamp: World Market (no longer available) // Banana Leaf Pillow: Anitas Casa Etsy Shop // Wall Sconces: Anthropologie // Mirror: Pottery Barn (no longer available) // Baskets: IKEA // Chandelier: West Elm // Pineapple Bookends: Target // Large Blue and White Vase: Amazon